132 THE OSAGE TRIBE [etii. ann. 36 



54. When the Httle onos iilso make t)f them the means of reaching old 



age, 



55. Tliey shall always live to see in tlie loosened muscles of their 



throats the sign of old age. 



56. The thin hair on the crown of my head also 



57. 1 have made to bo the means of reaching old age. 



58. The little ones in their old age 



59. Shall always see the hair on the crowns of their heads thinned with 



age. 



60. The thin, yellowish hair of my head 



61. I have also 



62. Made to be the means of reaching old age. 



63. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



64. They shall always live to see the hair of their hca<ls thinned and 



yellowish with age. 



65. The four great divisions of the days 



66. They shall always enable themselves to reach and to enter. 



67. When the people of the Wa-zha'-zhe 



68. And those of the Ho^'-ga 



69. Make of me their bodies, 



70. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



The Tse Thon'-ka (Buffalo Back) Gens 



(Osage version, p. 3.'>1; literal translation, p. 518) 



1. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



2. The Tsi'-zhu, a people who possess seven fireplaces, 



3. Spake to one of their number, the Tse Tho°'-ka (Buffalo Back), 



4. Saying: O, grandfather, 



5. We have nothing that is suitable to use as a symbol. 



6. Tse Tlio°'-ka quickly replied, saying: O, little ones, 



7. You say you have nothing that is suitable to use as a symbol. 



8. I am a person who is suitable to use as a symbol. 



9. The people of the Wa-zha'-zhe 



10. And those of the Ho°'-ga 



11. Shall always use me as a symbol. 



12. On their account I shall always be burning my fingers (referring 



to his duties as Sho'-ka, kindling fii'es, etc.). 



13. When they cause me to burn my fingers by calling mc to their 



service, 



14. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they trave 



the path of life. 



